The Tbilisi City Court on October 23 sent an activist from the opposition National Forum party, who is charged with resisting police, to pre-trial detention pending investigation.

Police arrested Zaza Chakvetadze on October 21, during the incident outside the Lilo outdoor market in Tbilisi outskirts, when a group of vendors and National Forum party activists scuffled with the market security guard.

Chakvetadze denies charges. Gubaz Sanikidze, one of the leaders of the National Forum party, said after the court order was announced, that Chakvetadze was “a political prisoner.”

Chakvetadze faces either fine or up to five years in prison if convicted.